Based in Tokyo, Yuko Araki has gravitated from learning piano at a young age to creating music in a variety of projects covering a range of styles, from electronic to psychedelic, but her solo project finds her journey into more experimental territory. Earlier this year, Araki released her debut EP, simply titled I, for Indonesian label Gerpfast Kolektif, and she's joined up with (fantastically named) Italian boutique tape label Commando Vanessa for her debut album, II.
Perhaps the thing that struck me the most about Araki's work on II was how ambient textures are featured as prominently as the more extreme noise elements. Its hypnotic and mysterious vibe makes the album, for me, more approachable than many Japanoise albums whose sole purpose seems to be eardrum abuse.
II's spacey mood is captured quite nicely in the video for track "Marooned on Mars," premiering below. Says Greta Oto, the video creators, "Greta Oto videos are always characterized by an eclectic approach. Yuko Araki "Marooned on Mars" intergalactic noise acted as a primordial soup on this video channeling... darkest sidereal ambiance.” I'd have to agree - the video looks like something one might see in a particularly heady science fiction film.
After you've prepared the rocket boosters, check out the "Marooned on Mars" video below and head to Commando Vanessa to preorder Yuko Araki's II. You can also find Yuko Araki on Facebook or catch her on tour in Europe this fall.
Yuko Araki - Marooned on Mars from Greta Oto on Vimeo.
